yesterday i started to use FeedBurner to track all requests for my feed. this also helps me analyse usage information and has lots of other good stuff.
but if there is one thing i hate, it is giving up control, especially over something i own. so i realised at the very outset that if i was to use [tag]feedburner[/tag] i would not change my feed url (it is still feed:http://www.prash.net/feed ) but instead would redirect my feed to feedburner by messing around with my [tag]apache[/tag] installation – as always, hosting [tag]wordpress[/tag] on one’s own has its rewards (and punishments if you mess up instead of just mess around). thankfully, the whole thing was massively simplified with the help of Steve‘s super-cool plugin that was a snap to install and configure. of course you must have access to your .htaccess file (if you have to ask what that is then don’t even bother with this).
on the other hand, if you are willing to give up a little control for some nice advantages, you can change your feed url to a feedburner one and have all your users point to that. my problem (and this guy’s) with this is what would happen sometime in the future if you decide you don’t like feedburner? many of your readers might have the feedburner url and that won’t work if you snip it. (although personally i don’t have the “many readers” problem since i like to keep my readership in the single-digits – yes believe me – it is my decision to keep it that way – no, really!). the good not-so-bad news is that you have a 30 day grace period for a switchback. this post on the feedburner blog explains it all for those who don’t host wordpress on their own (or don’t have access to their .htaccess file for externally hosted accounts).
so go ahead – take the plunge.
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